Archive for July 11th, 2008
Just like we did last year, IntoMobile is reppin' the west-side in Santa Monica, California. Just like last year, summer is in full swing and we're waiting for Apple to drop their latest handset-bomb on the west-coast. The next-generation iPhone 3G launches on 8am, local time, July 11. So, that means we'll be among the last people in the country to get our hands on the iPhone 3G. But, being in line 10 hours before the launch means we'll be among the first in Socal to get the iPhone successor in our pockets.
Qik's registration process sucks. Flixwagon and Kyte myopically only support S60 handsets. So, I'm left with the the limited but much more flexible Ustream option. Keep checking this feed for the latest developments from the line at the Apple store in beautiful Santa Monica, CA.
.Television on the internet : provided by Ustream
And, only in Los Angeles do we’ve live entertainment at midnight. It's a good thing…
Update:
Apple employees handing out Smart Water. Genius.
Update:
The line
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 Can't wait to get your hands on a Palm Treo 800w? Well, if delayed gratification isn't something you've developed a taste for, then give Sprint a call.
The exclusive Palm Treo 800w carrier (at least for now) has started accepting pre-orders for the device through its Telesales system (877-639-8351). As expected, the Palm Treo 800w will be available from Sprint for a $349.99 with 2-year contract and $100 mail-in rebate, or $424.00 with a 1-year contract and $100 rebate.
You'll want to make sure you get place an order for the Palm Treo 800w with ProductID: PTR800HK.
Official sales through brick-and-mortar channels are expected to kick off July 13, so keep an eye out for those new Palm Treo 800w's!
In the meantime, keep yourself busy with this newly leaked sales guide. The highlights are EVDO Rev. A, GPS with both assisted and stand-alone options, and 4 hour talk-time (200 hours in stand-by).
Palm Treo 800w data sheet for Sprint
[Via: WMExperts]
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 We love a good FCC-blessing every now and again. It's always nice to know that the good folks in some non-descript government laboratory are working hard to make sure that the newest and coolest gadgets with radio transmitters don't fry our brains in to oblivion. And, to make sure CDMA users don't get zapped into half-wits, the FCC has just cleared the HTC Touch Diamond for CDMA-duty.
Following on the Sprint HTC Touch Diamond spy pics and HTC's push to get the FCC's go-ahead on the CDMA variants of their HTC Touch Pro and HTC Touch Dual, we're seeing the CDMA-toting HTC Touch Diamond getting the green-light from FCC engineers. With Telus having already announced the CDMA HTC Touch Diamond for the Canadian market, it's just a matter of time before Verizon and Sprint pick up HTC's hottest ticket.
Now, we wait…
FCC
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With some parts of the world already privy to the joy that’s using the iPhone 3G, and others with the iPhone 2.0 OS already installed on their first-gen iPhones, it was only a matter of time before screenshots of the AppStore running on an iPhone were posted to the 'tubes.
So, without further ado… iPhone AppStore screenshots!
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 It's officially iPhone 3G Launch Day Eve, and the iPhone 3G is basically going to dominate the blogosphere even more so than it has over the past few months, or even this past week. And, to make sure all you iPhone 3G hopefuls have something to do while you wait for the doors of your local Apple or AT&T store to fly open, Apple has posted the highly-anticipated iPhone 2.0 OS firmware.
This link will get you downloading and on your way to iPhone 2.0 OS-bliss. But, be warned, you'll need to backup all your data before you install the new firmware.
According to Apple, all your data will be wiped clean:
“Normally if you choose to update, the iPhone or iPod touch software is updated but your settings and media are not affected. If your device currently has a software version prior to 2.0 (1.x) and you are updating to software version 2.0 or later, all data on your device will be erased in order to perform install the new software. In this case, iTunes will offer to create a one-time media backup of your device depending on what content is on your device and what content is stored in the iTunes Library you are connected to. You should ensure that you have enough free space on your Mac or Personal computer to accommodate a backup that matches the capacity of your iPhone or iPod touch (4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB) if you proceed with the this backup.”
To install the new firmware, download the .ipsw file here. Then connect your iPhone to your computer and fire up iTunes. Under the iPhone tab, Option+Click (on a Mac) or Ctrl+Click (on a PC) on the “Update” button. You'll want to choose the firmware file that you just downloaded, and wait for iPhone 2.0 OS to install on your iPhone.
You'll need the new firmware to surf the newly opened Apple AppStore on your iPhone. Or, you can just update your iTunes to v7.7 and get jiggy with the AppStore on your desktop.
Update at your own risk. This particular instance of the iPhone 2.0 OS isn't official (even though it's from Apple). So, again, proceed at your own risk.
iPhone 2.0 OS
Update:
Reports are coming in that some users are experiencing lagging problems with the new iPhone 2.0 OS. Having been hosted on Apple's own site, we would have thought that this firmware would be just as good as an official release. But, as is par for the course with Apple, they haven't been forthcoming with any information regarding the iPhone 2.0 OS.
We're also hearing that the direct-download link fetches the iPhone 2.0 OS designed for the iPhone 3G specifically. Do what you will, and remember, it's at your own risk.
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While the rest of the US will likely wallow in the shared misery of Canadian subscribers being charged for incoming text messages, our friends to the North are none-too-happy about the situation.
Following in the footsteps of US wireless carriers looking to squeeze every penny out of their American subscriber-base, Bell and Telus have announced that they'll be billing customers $0.15 (15 cents) for each incoming SMS text message. Those with text messaging  bundles will not be affected, but everyone else on a pay-per-text plan will be subject to the new fees. Regardless of the sender - be they spammer, family member, or evil twin - the person receiving the SMS text message will be charged a heft 15 cent fee per message.
The new policy is a severe departure from the carriers' previous policy of only billing customers for text message that they send, allowing users to receive messages for free.
Bell will kick off their new text messaging policy on August 8th, and Telus will follow suit on August 24th.
The move could spur users in to jumping ship and signing up with other carriers - like Virgin Mobile, or even Rogers (can you taste the irony?). And, angry Canadians are on the verge of revolt. So much so that the Canadian government has demanded explanations from the carriers for their decision to start billing for incoming texts. “I believe this was an ill-thought-out decision,” said Industry Minister Jim Prentice. “While I’ve no desire to interfere with the day-to-day business decisions of two private companies, I do have a duty as Minister of Industry, when necessary, to protect the interests of the consuming public.”
Telus defended the decision to charge for incoming text messages in saying that the volume of SMS messages has “skyrocketed” and that US carriers have been carrying out this practice for years. And, therein lies the problem.
It's one thing to emulate the service and features of rival mega-carriers like AT&T and Verizon in the US. But, it's just not good PR to start adopting the greedy billing practices that those same idolized carriers recently got sued for.
[Via: CBCNews]
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 When does a Windows Mobile 6.0-powered smartphone with a WVGA display sporting the highest pixel density of any VGA smartphone on market? When the list of cons far outweighs what little benefit you could hope to get from a gloriously crisp WVGA display, that's when.
The Toshiba Protege G910 is apparently just such a smartphone. PocketNow scored a Toshiba Protege G910 of their very own and they put it through the ringer. The end result? A smartphone with more potential than punch.
The WVGA display is basically as good as it gets in the mobile world, the full QWERTY keyboard offers delectable tactile response, and the assortment of aGPS, WiFi, and HSDPA make for a seriously competent handset. Add to that a dose of OLED, and you've got the makings of an astonishing Windows Mobile 6.0 smartphone.
That is, until you take into account the laggy performance, the lack of USB 2.0 support, a laggy keyboard, lack of WM6.1 (unacceptable at this point in the mobile space), and cheap materials. Add to that the sub-par camera, big size, almost useless fingerprint security, too-dim display, and the minuscule external OLED display, and you've got the makings for one of the biggest disappointments of 2008.
I had a opportunity to handle the Protege G910 at MWC 2008 Barcelona, and it does indeed feel bulky. The display is nice, and the keyboard felt quite responsive. But, as the saying goes, “you can't win the race on heart and good intentions alone.” Okay, I just made that up.
Head on over to PocketNow to check out their full review of the fantastically disappointing Toshiba Protege G910.
Check out the unboxing video below.
[Via: PocketNow]
Images from PocketNow
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 The latest rumor regarding the oft-speculated Sidekick Gekko/Gecco/Aspen (depending on which particular rumor you're thinking about) comes to us wrapped in absolutely unsubstantiated packaging.
Word on the street is that the Sidekick Gekko will be called the “Sidekick 2008″ when it's released on T-Mobile's network. As expected, some leaked photos show the Sidekick Gekko sporting a variety of swappable color-panels, reminiscent of the Sidekick iD.
But, why would T-Mobile select to name its latest HipTop in deference to the year of its launch? Beats us. But, 2008 is halfway over, so the Sidekick 2008 had superior launch soon - perhaps later this month?
[Via: HipTop3]
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 With their market share dropping ever lower these days, Palm's taken a proactive approach to streamlining its operation. Rather than finalize and launch their MyPalm portal out of beta-land, Palm has apparently decided to close-up shop on their Palm information portal.
On September 1, 2008, MyPalm will cease to exist.
Here's Palm's explanation for killing of MyPalm:
We?re [sic] working hard at Palm to deliver great products and services to our customers. The MyPalm Beta program gave us an opportunity to provide certain offers and service to members. We collected great feedback from our valued customers on ways to improve customer experience. Participation in new offers and services won’t require customers to sign up for the MyPalm Beta program.
Sounds like a roundabout explanation that essentially tries to avoid saying what we all know to be true - MyPalm just didn't work out. But, once MyPalm turns off the lights for good, at least it's comforting to know that future services and offers won't require the user to sign up for MyPalm.
Confused much?
Palm
[Via: PalmInfocenter]
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 What's this? Am I actually advising iPhone 3G hopefuls against jumping on Apple's next-generation iPhone bandwagon? Well, yes… kind of.
Here's the thing. The iPhone 3G is going to be the new hotness, there's no denying that. But, is the launch-day madness worth the hardware?
iPhone 3G reviews from Walt Mossberg, David Pogue, and Ed Baig are already out (being big-wigs, the “Big Three” can flaunt NDAs with abandon) and they basically sum up the next-generation as a great piece of kit, but much of the improvements to the iPhone lie in the new iPhone 2.0 OS. Enterprise support, AppStore, and other minor changes affect some significant change over the current iPhone and firmware.
Sure, the hardware in the iPhone 3G is a major improvement over the first-generation model. Sure, we're dying to get our hands on the next-generation handset-kit from Apple. Sure, it's going to be the hottest thing on your block for the next few months.
But, if you already have an iPhone, and don't have a religious-like need to get your hands on the iPhone 3G, holding off for a couple days will probably do you some good. If you don't already have an iPhone, then what's a couple more days in waiting? You can read up on all the iPhone 3G reviews and get the down-low on the good and the bad before you take the plunge.
If you're mature enough to keep yourself away for a couple days, then you may want to wait it out. And, all of you avoiding those launch-day lines just means the rest of us that just have to have the latest and greatest immediately will have less of a crowd to deal with - we're suckers for instant gratification.
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